162 DISEASES OF THE KIDNEYS. 



have for a season afforded relief; but the attack 

 assuredly returns, and ultimately destroys the horse. 



These calculi are generally found in the colon : but 

 others consisting" of hardened faeces termed dung-balls ; 

 or composed of the matted hairs of the oat, and called 

 oat-hair balls, are met with in the rectum. Back- 

 raking should, therefore, always be practised in every 

 case of abdominal disease, more especially if the 

 symptoms are at all dubious. Measures calculated to 

 allay the pain, such as the frequent exhibition of drachm 

 doses of powdered aconite root, are likewise called 

 for, but we know of no means by which these deposits 

 can be removed or dissolved, although two drachms of 

 hydrochloric acid mingled with each pail of water 

 may prevent such accumulations from increasing in 

 size. 



CHAPTER XXIII. 



INFLAMMATION AND OTHER DISEASES OF THE 

 KIDNEYS AND BLADDER. 



The kidneys are actively employed in separating the 

 watery parts of the blood, as well as a peculiar princi- 

 ple, the urea; which, if it were suffered to accumulate 

 in the circulation, would prove poisonous. The prac- 

 titioner is sometimes anxious to remove some of the 

 serum from the vital current; because, by diminish- 

 ing the natural quantity of blood, he rouses the absor- 

 bents to take up certain dropsical effusions in different 

 parts of the frame. Therefore it is that he some- 



